Student ID should say ‘I am an organ donor’: DMER

Namrata Devikar

Saturday, 7 April 2018

“Many youngsters succumb to road accidents and many cases of young brain dead patients are coming forth. In case of a young person losing his life, the family and relatives have to take a tough decision of organ donation. However, if they are already aware that the patient had made a conscious choice earlier of donating his or her organs, it will be easier for them.”
— Pravin Shingare, Director of DMER

PUNE: To promote organ donation among youngsters and spread awareness, the Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER) has proposed to the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik, that the students’ identification card should state ‘I am an organ donor’.

Speaking to Sakal Times, Pravin Shingare, Director of DMER, said that this initiative will be implemented from this academic year if approved. “We will be starting this initiative in 300 colleges. If the university gives permission, then, the first few colleges will be medical colleges. After that, we are hoping to send the proposal to the Governor of Maharashtra, who is the Chancellor of Universities,” said Shingare.

Welcoming the initiative, Arti Gokhale, Coordinator, Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC), Pune, said that the initiative will spread awareness among youngsters and their families. “Such initiatives are always welcome, especially, when there are a lot of patients waiting to get organs. Another such initiative in the pipeline is to make it mandatory on a driving licence. The bearer of the licence will be asked while applying for the licence if he/she wants to donate vital organs. Such initiatives help families take decisions and also doctors to retrieve organs,” said Gokhale.

Vrinda Pusalkar, social worker and transplant coordinator from Jehangir Hospital, spoke about an incident from last year when a 16-year-old boy was declared brain dead. He was a victim of a road accident and was riding without a helmet. His family was devastated. Convincing them to agree for organ donation was difficult. However, they did agree and the donor saved several lives. As he was young, his heart, liver, kidney and all vital organs gave a new lease of life to others,” he added.